India Chess Olympiad captain flags hotel delays ahead of Samarkand opener

India's Chess Olympiad team faced logistical difficulties upon arriving in Samarkand for their title defense. Team captain Srinath Narayanan publicly expressed frustration over the delayed allocation of hotel rooms. The team had arrived five hours ahead of schedule, yet room assignments were still not confirmed. The issue emerged just before the event's opening ceremony, drawing attention to organizational challenges. The Chess Olympiad in Samarkand has been noted as a record-setting edition in terms of participation.